Beer Is Art Launches the Global Lager Popsicle Initiative to Inspire Brewers to Document Their Heritage

Beer Is Art, the creative brewing and skills-development initiative founded by filmmaker and brewer Obakeng Malope, is proud to announce the launch of its latest global campaign: the Lager Popsicle Initiative.

The Lager Popsicle—an imaginative concept featuring a frozen lager and frozen beer foam—does not exist in reality. Instead, it serves as a symbolic and playful creative prompt. Its purpose is to challenge brewers around the world to think beyond the traditional boundaries of beer and to embrace brewing as an artistic and cultural expression.

Empowering Youth Through Beer Education

Beer Is Art provides training to unemployed youth over the age of 21, equipping them with practical and entrepreneurial skills related to the beer industry. Participants receive instruction in beer brewing, beer podcasting, licensing, brand creation, Cicerone preparation, and the fundamentals of starting their own breweries. The program is designed to build a new generation of informed, skilled, and culturally conscious beer professionals.

Led by a Visionary Storyteller

Founder Obakeng Malope, a filmmaker, brewer, and cultural archivist, has spent time documenting South Africa's diverse beer culture—particularly its traditional sorghum beer and sorghum lager. Through her documentaries, Malope has highlighted South Africa's heritage, traditions, and the lived experiences of its communities. Her work demonstrates that beer is not merely a product; it is a cultural narrative.

A Global Call to Brewers: Document Your Story

The Lager Popsicle Initiative invites brewers from every corner of the world to create their own short documentaries. Brewers are encouraged to showcase their brewing processes, cultural traditions, local ingredients, and personal stories, contributing to a shared global archive of brewing heritage.

"No brewer needs to travel to another continent to understand someone else's beer culture," says Malope. "Through film, brewers can share their stories with one another—preserving heritage and building global connection without crossing borders."

Inspired by International Success

The initiative was conceived following Malope's successful screening of her beer documentary at a New York beer festival. The event brought brewers and beer enthusiasts together for an immersive experience that blended film, tasting, conversation, and meaningful dialogue. The positive reception confirmed the global appetite for storytelling within the brewing community.

Beer Is Art: Brewing, Storytelling, Heritage

With the launch of the Lager Popsicle Initiative, Beer Is Art expands its mission to transform brewers into filmmakers and cultural storytellers. The campaign underscores the belief that beer embodies far more than craftsmanship—it carries identity, memory, and art.

About Beer Is Art

Beer Is Art is an initiative dedicated to creative beer education, industry skills development, and cultural storytelling. Through training programs, film projects, and international collaborations, Beer Is Art promotes brewing as both a craft and a platform for preserving heritage.